TECHNIQUE
Mixed
SKILL LEVEL
Moderate
Create in a day
YOU WILL NEED

  • A papier mâché box 25cm x 18cm x 12cm (10in. x 7in. x 5in.)
  • White mulberry paper
  • Bright green mulberry paper to line the inside of the box
  • Scrap of thin white card
  • Spray paint by Plastikote in Vanilla and Garden Green
  • Stamps – Rubber Stampede Eucalyptus leaves 2868E; PSX Curly Maple Leaf F2781
  • Fabrico ink pads, Sand and Wisteria
  • Hero Arts Shadow inkpad in Sage
  • A sponge dauber or small cosmetic sponge
  • Pastel coloured skeleton leaves
  • Pearly plastic beads in pink, green and purple/blue
  • Suitable sayings and messages (try the Oxford Book Of Quotations or look for suitable stamps)
  • PVA glue
  • Bostik or a glue gun
  • Decorative edging scissors
  • 1m length of blue organza ribbon

Designed by Jenny Higham

 
1 Tear the white mulberry paper into rough 10cm (4in.) square pieces. Apply to the box sides and the lid, taking the paper down inside the box to about half way and down the sides for the inside of the lid. Brush the PVA glue over the surface as you go smoothing it out. Line the inside of the box with pieces of the green mulberry paper.
 
2 Print, stamp or write your messages on plain white paper. Cut them out with the decorative edging scissors and apply to the sides and the lid of the box. We have placed one on each side and two on the lid. Leave the box to dry completely inside and out.
 
3 Cover your work surface with old newspaper (or do this outside). Lightly spray the sides of the box and the lid with the Vanilla and Garden Green spray paints. Aim for the lightest touch of colour to create the misty mood. The paint will dry in a matter of minutes.
 
4 Using the Fabrico Sand inkpad and the sponge dauber, rub the sprayed surface with a little extra colour. Make the shading darker at the edges and corners of the box and much lighter at the centre.
 
5 Next, stamp the Eucalyptus leaves with the Sage shadow inkpad, spacing them randomly around the sides and the lid. Stamp the Maple Leaf with the Wisteria ink in the same way.
 
6 Use the same sponging technique to shade the scrap of thin white card – an area big enough to take two of the curly Maple motifs – shade with the Sand inkpad. Stamp the Maple Leaf on top in the Wisteria colour. When dry, cut out around the leaves.
 
7 Glue the skeleton leaves to the side of the box – two on each of the long sides and one on the short side. Glue two on the lid. PVA glue is ideal as you can brush it over the leaves liberally and it will become invisible when dry.
 
8 Glue the beads in place on the lid together with the stamped Maple leaves. Glue the organza ribbon around the edge of the box lid. PC
 

SUPPLIERS
The stamps, inkpads and mulberry paper should be available from any stamp or art and craft store, such as horseshoecrafts.
Tel: 01582 472247
Visit: www.horseshoecrafts.co.uk
 
Skeleton leaves are also readily available from cardmakingcrafts.
Visit: www.cardmakingcrafts.co.uk